Year After Nixon’s Death, Nation Mourns Anew

YORBA LINDA — A year after the death of the 37th President of the United States, flowers arrived from throughout the nation, patrons lingered at a photo exhibit of the state funeral, and the flag flew at half staff at the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace.

Though the lowered flag symbolized another tragedy, the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City, it brought back vivid memories.

“It was very poignant, and it was very bittersweet,” library spokesman Kevin Cartwright said. “Of course, the flags at the library were lowered first, in the evening, one year ago today. Not only is it the one-year anniversary, but the events of the week in Oklahoma City have also saddened visitors to the library and the library staff.”

At the library Saturday, a quintet from Travis Air Force Base played a tribute to Nixon in the lobby. But the real commemoration of his death will come Wednesday, with the unveiling of a postage stamp in his honor and a speech by New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.